An Old, Beaten Path Poem by George Aul

Down an old, beaten path-
I do walk alone
surrounded by Nature's majesty,
wrapped in its ever present glow;
the sun lights my way,
brilliant beams from above;
the fallen, twisted branches on the ground-
reminders of battles nearly won, but lost;
a crumpled tree with its hollowed shell,
cries echoes of dreams and hardships
now forever ended.
The sound of rushing water
pushes me ever forward-
my new destination;
the polished rocks are
the silent sentinels to the passing of time.
In the distance a small foot-bridge appears,
a crossing over;
a final look at Nature's bath-
of sky, of water, of beauty, of life.
I exclaim, 'How lucky a man be in life,
when he finally sees-
his own old, beaten path.'